Closure for collapsible tubes



J. FROHMANN Dec. 29, 1 931.

CLOSURE FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed May 16, 1931 Z 6 4 0 M 3 5 \J .llll7 ML. W U 7 N M Z 9 M w/ z 7- w n Patented Dec. 29, 1931 Jon FBOHMANN,OF ST. MISSOURI cnosunn on conmsmnn TUBES Application filed m 16, 1931.Serial No. 537,920.

This invention relates to collapsible tubes for tooth pastes, shavingcreams, ointments and the like, and more particularly to a novel closurefor tubes of this character.

The invention has for one of its objects to provide a closure for acollapsible tube which shall be adapted to open automatically whenpressure is applied to the tube so as to enable its contents to beextruded without removing the closure, which shall be adapted to closeautomatically when the pressure on the tube is removed so as topreventthe deterioration of the remainder of the contents and whichshall be simple, durable and inexpensive and 16 capable of beingpermanently or detachably connected to the tube.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, the nature of which willappear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in theconstruction, combination and ar-v rangement of parts hereinafter fullydescribed and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,wherein Figure 1 is a sectional view taken on a plane extendinglongitudinally and centrally through the closure and an end portion of acollapsible tube.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line2--2 of Figure 1. :0 Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustratinga slightly modified form of the closure, and

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line Hof Figure 3.

Referring in detail to the drawings 1 designates a fragmentary portionof a collapsible tube for tooth paste, shaving cream or the like, and 2designates the closure for the tube.

The closure 2 comprises a cylindrical cap 3 which is applied to the neck4 of the tube 1 and which is of greater length than and extendslongitudinally beyond the neck. The cap 3 is provided in its inner endportion with an internally screw threaded bushing 5 which engages thescrew threads of the neck 4 to efiect the detachable connection of thecap to the neck. The bushing 5 may be soldered or secured in any othersuitable manner to the cap 3. The ca 3 is provided in its lateral wallat a point eyond the neck 4 with a discharge port or opening 8 throughwhich the contents of the tube 1 are extruded when pressure is appliedto the tube.

The cap 3 is rigid, and is preferably made from metal. A solid piston 9,which is also '55 preferably made from metal, is slidably mounted in thecap 3 and constitutesa valve for the discharge opening 8 of the cap. Thepiston 9 normally occupies a position within the cap 3 where it willclose the discharge opening 8, and it is normally held in this positionby a coil spring 10 mounted within the cap 3 between the outer end ofthe piston and the outer end wall 11 of the cap. A rod 12, which isformed integrally with the piston 9, extends through an opening 13 inthe cap wall 11, and has its outer end portion screw threaded for theapplication thereto of a nut let which contacts with said Wall to limitthe inward movement of the piston 9 and thus insure the pistons normallyoccupying a position where it fully closes the discharge openin 8.

a flexible washer 15 is secured to the inner end of the piston 9 bymeans of a screw 16. The washer 15 has snug contact with the lateralwall of the cap 3, a metal washer 17 being mounted between the end ofthe screw 16 and the washer 15 to normally maintain the latter incontact with said cap wall and the inner end of the piston 9.

If desired the closure may be permanently secured to a collapsible tube,as shown in Figure 3. To permit the closure to be readily secured inthis manner to a tube, the cap, which is here designated 3a, is providedat its lower end with flanges 18 which are of arcuate formation in crosssection and formed integrally with the cap and which extend inwardlyfrom the cap in diverging relation. The closure attaching flanges 18 arearranged within the discharge end of the tube, which is here designated1a, and may be soldered or secured thereto in any other suitable manner.The flanges 18 not only permit the closure to qfi be readily secured tothe tube but also due to their divergent relation hold the closureagainst accidental displacement from the tube under any pressure towhich it might be subjected during the extruding of the con- 100 tentsof the tube. The other parts of the closure shown in this figure aresimilar to the corresponding parts shown in Figures 1 and 2 and aredesignated by the same reference characters.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, it should be apparent that the piston 9 isnormally held by the spring 10 in position to close the dischargeopening or port 8, and that when pressure is applied to the tube toextrude the contents the piston will move outwardly beyond the dischargeopening so as to permit the contents to pass through such opening. Thespring 10 will be compressed during this movement of the piston 9, withthe result that the piston will We returned to its normal position whenthe pressure is removed from the tube. As the piston 9 normally occupiesa position where it closes the discharge opening 8, and as the washer 15has a snug fit within the cap 3, the closure will so effectively sealthe tube as to prevent the deterioration of the contents thereof. Thepiston 9 is shown in discharge port closing position in Figure 1 and indischarge port uncovering position in Figure 3.

While I have described the principle of the invention, together with thestructure which now consider the preferred embodiment thereof, it is tobe understood that the structure shown is merely illustrative and thatsuch changes may be made, when desired, as fall within the scope of theinvention as claimed. i

What is claimed is 1. A closure for a collapsible tube, comprising a capsecured to and extending longitudinally from the tube, the cap beingprovided in its lateral wall with a discharge port, a piston slidablymounted in the cap for movement into port covering and port uncoveringposition, a rod secured to the piston and extending through the outerend wall of the cap, a spring positioned between the piston and said endwall and normally holding the piston in port covering position, and anut secured to the outer end of the rod and cooperating with said endwall to limit the movement of the piston by the spring.

2. A closure for a collapsible tube, comprising a cap secured to andextending longitudinally from the tube, the cap being provided in itslateral wall with a discharge port, a piston slidably mounted in the capfor movement into port covering and port uncovering position, a rodsecured to the piston and extending through the outer end wall of thecap, a spring positioned between the piston and said end wall andnormally holding the piston in port covering position, a nut secured tothe outer end of the rod and cooperating with said end wall to limit themovement of the piston by the spring, and a flexible washer secured tothe inner end of the piston and contacting with the lateral wall of thecap.

3. A closure for a collapsible tube, comprising a cap secured to andextending longitudinally from the tube, the cap being provided in itslateral wall with a discharge port, a solid piston slidably mounted inthe cap for movement into port covering and port uncovering position, arod formed integrally with the piston and extending through the outerend wall of the cap, a spring positioned between the piston and said endwall and normally holding the piston in port covering position, a nutsecured to the outer end of'the'rod and cooperating with said end wallto limit the movement of the piston by the spring, and a flexible washersecured to the inner end of the piston and contacting with the lateralwall of the cap.

4. A closure for a collapsible tube, comprising a cap provided in itslateral wall with a discharge port, flanges extending inwardly from theinner end of the cap, the flanges being arranged in inwardly divergingrelation and of arcuate formation in cross section and located Withinand secured to the tube, a piston slidably mounted in the cap for movement into port covering and port uncovering position, and means foryieldingly holding the piston in port covering position.

5. A closure for a collapsible tube, co1nprising a cap provided in itslateral wall with a discharge port, flanges extending inwardly from theinner end of the cap, the flanges being arranged in inwardly divergingrelation and of arcuate formation in cross section and secured to thetube, a solid piston slidably mounted in the cap for movement into portcovering and port uncoveringposition, a rod secured to the piston andextending through the outer end wall of the cap, a spring positionedbetween the piston and said end wall and normally holding the piston inport closing position, a nut secured to the outer end of the rod andcooperating with said end wall to limit the movement of the piston bythe spring, and a flexible washer secured to the inner end of the pistonand contacting with said lateral wall.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

JOHN FROHMANN.

